Electric switch gear



y 3, 1932- G. H. NEEP 1,856,110

ELECTRIC SWITCH GEAR Filed Jan. 3, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l I GEORGE HNEEP 8) Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE HENRY NEEP, '1? MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR '10 SWITCHGEAR 86 COWANS, LIMITED, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND ntnornrc swrrcn GEAR Application filed January 3, 1930, Serial No. 418,176, and in Great Britain January 15, 1929.

This invention has reference to electric switchgear and more particularly to switchgear of the type comprising sets of terminals of incoming and outgoing conductors, and a circuit-breaker adapted to connect such terminals together.

In certain forms of switchgear of the said kind, known as horizontal draw-out and vertical drop-down types, means have been .provided for isolating the circuitbreaker which involve moving the circuitbreaker bodily. In one particular arrangement of switchgear, however, the terminals ofthe circuit-breaker have connected with them simultaneously movable coupling contacts adapted to be projected and retracted by exteriorly operated mechanism to engage and disengage the conductor terminals and so connect the circuit-breaker with the conductor terminals, or isolate it therefrom Without moving the circuit-breaker. In another arrangement of switchgear in which the fixed contacts of the circuit-breaker are supported in the oil tank of the circuit-breaker by insulators through which pass conductors connecting the contacts with adjacent ap paratus, such as e. g., bus-bars, the conductors have been arranged to be movable in the insulators for the purpose of isolating the fixed contacts.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved means of connecting the circuit-breaker with the electric system and isolating it therefrom Without moving the circuit-breaker.

According to this invention the terminals of the circuit-breaker are mounted with capability of movement and are adapted tobe actuated by eXteriorly-operated mechanism to engage and disengage the electric system without movement of the body or casing of the circuit-breaker.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of one embodiment of the invention in a switchgear of the ironclad type, showing the circuit-breaker connected with the electric system, and Fig. 2 is a like view showing the circuitbreaker isolated from the electric system.

Referring to the drawings, 3 and d indicate, respectively, the terminals of the incoming and outgoing conductors of the electrio system, the terminals being arranged within upper chambers 3*, 4 respectively. 5 indicates the body or casing of the circuitbreaker arranged below the chambers 3, 4*, 6 and 7 indicate the terminals of the breaker and 8 indicates the brush or contactor thereof which co-operates with contacts 6, 7 on the lower ends of the terminals 6, 7.

The breaker terminals are arranged in insulating tubes 6f, 7 mounted in a carrier 9 which is mounted on a screw-threaded spindle 10 upon which it is adapted to'be raised to project the breaker terminals 6, 7 into engagement with the respective complementary conductor terminals 3, 4 as shown in Fig. 1, and, after the brush or contactor 8 has been lowered, to be lowered to retract the breaker terminals 6, 7 into the body or casing of the breaker, thus isolating the breaker from the electric system, as shown in Fig. 2.

The spindle 10 is rotatably mounted in the cover of the body or casing of the breaker and is conveniently rotated to raise and lower the terminals 6, 7 by means of a worm-wheel 11, a worm 12 engaging therewith and provided on a shaft 13 provided with an operating hand-wheel 14:.

The brush or contactor 8 maybe raised and lowered into and out of engagement with the contacts 6 7 by means of links 15, arms 16, 17 on a shaft 18, a link 19, an arm 20 on a shaft 21 which is provided with an operating lever 22. I l

The brush or contactor 8 serves as an interlock to prevent the breaker terminals 6, 7 a

from being retracted out of engagement with the conductor terminals 3, l, until after the brush or contactor has been opened.

Any other appropriate means than those described may be employed for raising and lowering the breaker terminals 6, 7 and the brush or contactor 8 and other interlocking means may be employed for. preventing retraction of the breaker terminals until after the brush or contactor has been opened.

Suitable interlocking means may, as is usual in switch gear of this kind, be provided stationary terminals, a pair are in the isolated position.

What I claim as m%invention and desire.

to secure by Letters atent is 1. Acircuit breaker comprising a of movable terminals adapted to be moved into and out of contact with said stationary terminals, and. a movable contactor adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said movable terminals.

2. A circuit breaker comprising a air 01% stationary terminals, a pair of mova le terminals, means -for moving said movable terminals into and out of contact with said stationary terminals, a movable contactor, and means for moving said contactor into and out of engagement with said movable terminals.

5. A circuit breaker comprising a pair of stationary terminals, a pair of movable t/erminals, means for moving said movable terminals into and out or" contact with said stationary "minals, movable contactor, and means independent of said terminal. moving means for moving said contactor into and out of engagement with said movable terminals.

4. A circuit breaker comprising a air of stationary terminals, a pair of mova le terminals, means for moving said movable ter-- minals into and out of contact with said sta tionary terminals, a movable contactor, and means independent of said terminal moving means for moving said contactor into and out of engagement with said movable terminals including means for locking the movable terminals contact with said stationary terminals.

ii. A ci---uit breaker comprising casing r openings therethrough, a pair of a casing t roat" nals wit in the casing in alignment with the openings through the casing, means for moving said movable terminals through the openings in the casing and into and out of engagement with the stationary terminals, a movable contactor within the casing adapted to engage the movable terminals within the casing, and means independent of said terminal moving means for moving said contactor into and out 0t engagement with said movable terminals including means for locking the movable terminals in contact with the stationary terminals.

6. A circuit breaker comprising a casing having a pair of openings therethrough, a pair of stationary terminals outside of said casing in alignment with the o enings through the casing, a pair of mova 1e terminals within the casing in alignment with t em with the openings the pair of movable termiits normal pair of v 1 'erminals outside of saidthe openings through the casing, means inthrough the openings in the casing and into and out of engagement with the stationary terminals, a movable contactor within the casing adapted to engage the movable terminals, and means including manually operable means outside of the casing for moving said movable contactor into and out of engagement with the movable terminals and locking the movable terminals in engagement with the stationary terminals.

in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE HENRY NEEP. 

